U.S. patent application number 16/021473 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-02 for connector with resistor-assembly.
The applicant listed for this patent is Delphi Technologies, LLC. Invention is credited to Nicholas A. Durse, Thomas S. Huda.
Application Number | 20200006900 16/021473 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 69055441 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-02 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20200006900 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Durse; Nicholas A. ; et
al. |
January 2, 2020 |
CONNECTOR WITH RESISTOR-ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A connector-assembly includes a housing, a
terminal-position-assurance device, and a resistor-assembly. The
housing includes a plurality of electrical-terminals. The
terminal-position-assurance device is configured to retain the
plurality of electrical-terminals within the housing. The
resistor-assembly is disposed within the
terminal-position-assurance device and includes a
first-spring-terminal, a second-spring-terminal, and a resistor
disposed between the first-spring-terminal and the
second-spring-terminal. The first-spring-terminal and the
second-spring-terminal are in separate electrical-communication
with at least one of the plurality of electrical-terminals. The
resistor has connection-leads disposed within slots formed in both
the first-spring-terminal and the second-spring-terminal, and is
disposed within channels formed in the terminal-position-assurance
device. The first-spring-terminal, the second-spring-terminal, and
the terminal-position-assurance device are in compressive contact
with a portion of the connection-leads.
Inventors: |
Durse; Nicholas A.;
(Youngstown, OH) ; Huda; Thomas S.; (Youngstown,
OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Delphi Technologies, LLC |
Troy |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
69055441 |
Appl. No.: |
16/021473 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2018 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/4367 20130101;
H01R 13/41 20130101; H01R 13/2442 20130101; H01R 13/422 20130101;
H01R 13/6616 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/66 20060101
H01R013/66; H01R 13/24 20060101 H01R013/24; H01R 13/422 20060101
H01R013/422 |
Claims
1. A connector-assembly, comprising: a housing including a
plurality of electrical-terminals; a terminal-position-assurance
device configured to retain the plurality of electrical-terminals
within the housing; and a resistor-assembly disposed within the
terminal-position-assurance device; the resistor-assembly including
a first-spring-terminal, a second-spring-terminal, and a resistor
disposed therebetween; the first-spring-terminal and the
second-spring-terminal in separate electrical-communication with at
least one of the plurality of electrical-terminals; the resistor
having connection-leads disposed within slots formed in both the
first-spring-terminal and the second-spring-terminal and disposed
within channels formed in the terminal-position-assurance device;
wherein the terminal-contact-end is arranged opposite and generally
parallel to the resistor-contact-end, wherein the
terminal-contact-end is noncoplanar with the resistor-contact-end,
and wherein the slots characterized as open-ended; and wherein the
first-spring-terminal, the second-spring-terminal, and the
terminal-position-assurance device are in compressive contact with
a portion of the connection-leads.
2. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
terminal-position-assurance device defines a cavity and a body of
the resistor is disposed within the cavity.
3. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
first-spring-terminal and the second-spring-terminal are generally
U-shaped having a terminal-contact-end and a resistor-contact-end
connected by a web and wherein the slots extend from the web and
terminate at a leading-edge of the resistor-contact-end.
4. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 3, wherein the
terminal-contact-end includes barbs on a first-side and a
second-side proximate the web, the barbs engaging walls of the
terminal-position-assurance device.
5. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
first-spring-terminal and the second-spring-terminal are generally
L-shaped having a terminal-contact-end and a resistor-contact-end,
wherein the slots extend from the terminal-contact-end along a
portion of the resistor-contact-end.
6. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein the
terminal-contact-end includes barbs on a first-side and a
second-side proximate the resistor-contact-end, the barbs engaging
walls of the terminal-position-assurance device.
7. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein a
spring-force of the first-spring-terminal and the
second-spring-terminal against the plurality of
electrical-terminals is greater than 5 Newtons.
8. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein an
engagement-force of the first-spring-terminal and the
second-spring-terminal against the terminal-position-assurance
device is greater than 20 Newtons.
9. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
connection-leads of the resistor are metallurgically bonded to the
first-spring-terminal and the second-spring-terminal.
10. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
terminal-position-assurance device is retained within the housing
by a component selected from the list consisting of a seal, a
retainer, and a connector-cap.
11. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
cavity is configured to securely retain the resistor and inhibit
movement of the resistor caused by vibrations and shock-loads.
12. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
terminal-position-assurance device is formed from a dielectric
polymeric material.
13. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 12, wherein the
terminal-position-assurance device is formed from a polyamide
material.
14. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
connection-leads are press-fit into the slots.
15. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the
connection-leads pass through the slots and are folded 180-degrees
back on themselves, thereby capturing the first-spring-terminal and
the second-spring-terminal.
16. The connector-assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein each
resistor-contact-end defines a single slot.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This disclosure generally relates to an electrical
connector, and more particularly relates to an electrical connector
with a resistor-assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0002] The present invention will now be described, by way of
example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0003] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a connector
assembly in accordance with one embodiment;
[0004] FIG. 2 is a perspective end-view of a
terminal-position-assurance device, a resistor-assembly, and a
plurality of electrical-terminals isolated from the assembly of
FIG. 1. in accordance with one embodiment;
[0005] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the
resistor-assembly and two of the plurality of electrical-terminals
14 isolated from the assembly of FIG. 1. in accordance with one
embodiment;
[0006] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another resistor-assembly
and terminal-position-assurance device the in accordance with one
embodiment; and
[0007] FIG. 5 is a section view of the assembly of FIG. 2 in
accordance with one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In
the following detailed description, numerous specific details are
set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one
of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments
may be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits,
and networks have not been described in detail so as not to
unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.
[0009] FIG. 1 is an exploded view illustrating a connector-assembly
10, hereafter referred to as the assembly 10. The assembly 10
includes a housing 12 having a plurality of electrical-terminals
14. The housing 12 is formed of a polymeric dielectric material.
The polymeric dielectric material may be any polymeric dielectric
material capable of electrically isolating portions of the
plurality of electrical-terminals 14, and is preferably a polyamide
(NYLON) material. The plurality of electrical-terminals 14 are
configured to mate with corresponding electrical-terminals of a
mating-connector (not shown). The plurality of electrical-terminals
14 are formed of an electrically conductive material, such as a
copper-based alloy that may also include a coating of another
conductive material (e.g. a tin-based or silver-based coating). The
plurality of electrical-terminals 14 are configured to be attached
to wire cables (not specifically shown) that may be a component of
a wiring-harness of a vehicle.
[0010] The assembly 10 also includes a terminal-position-assurance
device 16 (TPA 16) configured to retain the plurality of
electrical-terminals 14 within the housing 12. The TPA 16 is formed
of a polymeric dielectric material. The polymeric dielectric
material may be any polymeric dielectric material capable of
electrically isolating portions of the plurality of
electrical-terminals 14, and is preferably a polyamide (NYLON)
material. The TPA 16 inhibits a removal of the plurality of
electrical-terminals 14 from the housing 12 when an external-force
is applied to the wire cables. The TPA 16 is inserted into the
housing 12 along a mating-axis 18 and is retained within the
housing 12 by other components of the assembly 10 (not specifically
shown), which may include seals, retainers, and a
connector-cap.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective end-view of the TPA 16, a
resistor-assembly 20, and the plurality of electrical-terminals 14
isolated from the assembly 10 of FIG. 1. The assembly 10 also
includes the resistor-assembly 20 disposed within the TPA 16. The
resistor-assembly 20 includes a first-spring-terminal 22, a
second-spring-terminal 24, and a resistor 26 disposed between the
first-spring-terminal 22 and the second-spring-terminal 24. The
first-spring-terminal 22 and the second-spring-terminal 24 are in
separate electrical-communication with at least one of the
plurality of electrical-terminals 14. The first-spring-terminal 22
and the second-spring-terminal 24 are formed of an electrically
conductive material, such as a copper-based alloy that may also
include a coating of another conductive material (e.g. a tin-based
or silver-based coating). The TPA 16 defines a cavity 28 and a body
30 of the resistor 26 is disposed within the cavity 28. The cavity
28 securely retains the resistor 26 and inhibits movement of the
resistor 26 that may be caused by vibrations and shock-loads
experienced during the operation of the vehicle.
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates the resistor-assembly 20 and two of the
plurality of electrical-terminals 14 isolated from the assembly 10
of FIG. 1. The resistor 26 has connection-leads 32 disposed within
slots 34 formed in both the first-spring-terminal 22 and the
second-spring-terminal 24. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3,
the connection-leads 32 are press-fit into the slots 34. In another
embodiment, connection-leads 32 are also metallurgically bonded
(e.g. soldered or welded, etc.) to the first-spring-terminal 22 and
the second-spring-terminal 24. In another embodiment, the
connection-leads 32 are also crimped to the first-spring-terminal
22 and the second-spring-terminal 24.
[0013] In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 2-3, the
first-spring-terminal 22 and the second-spring-terminal 24 are
generally U-shaped 38, having a terminal-contact-end 40 and a
resistor-contact-end 42 connected by a web 44. The
terminal-contact-end 40 is opposite to, and generally parallel to,
the resistor-contact-end 42. The slots 34 extend from the web 44
and terminate at a leading-edge 46 of the resistor-contact-end 42
and are characterized as open-ended slots 34. The
terminal-contact-end 40 includes barbs 48 on a first-side 50 and a
second-side 52 proximate the web 44. The barbs 48 engage walls 54
of the TPA 16, as illustrated in FIG. 5.
[0014] In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the
first-spring-terminal 22 and the second-spring-terminal 24 are
generally L-shaped 56 having the terminal-contact-end 40 and the
resistor-contact-end 42 generally perpendicular to one another. The
slots 34 extend from the terminal-contact-end 40 along a portion of
the resistor-contact-end 42 and are characterized as closed-ended
slots 34. The connection-leads 32 of the resistor 26 pass through
the slots 34 and are folded 180-degrees back on themselves
capturing the first-spring-terminal 22 and the
second-spring-terminal 24. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4,
the connection-leads 32 are press-fit into the slots 34. In another
embodiment, connection-leads 32 are metallurgically bonded (e.g.
soldered, welded, etc.) to the L-shaped 56 first-spring-terminal 22
and the L-shaped 56 second-spring-terminal 24. In another
embodiment, the connection-leads 32 are also crimped to the
L-shaped 56 first-spring-terminal 22 and the L-shaped 56
second-spring-terminal 24.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a section-view of FIG. 2 illustrating the
resistor-assembly 20 in contact with the plurality of
electrical-terminals 14 and the TPA 16. The connection-leads 32 of
the resistor 26 are disposed within channels 58 formed in the TPA
16. That is, the connection-leads 32 lay in grooves molded into a
top-surface of the TPA 16 that are orthogonal to the mating-axis 18
of the assembly 10. The U-shaped 38 first-spring-terminal 22, the
U-shaped 38 second-spring-terminal 24, and the TPA 16 are in
compressive contact 60 with a portion of the connection-leads 32.
The compressive contact 60 is maintained by the barbs 48 engaging
the walls 54 of the TPA 16, as described above. A spring-force 62
of the first-spring-terminal 22 and the second-spring-terminal 24
against the plurality of electrical-terminals 14 is greater than 5
Newtons. The inventors have discovered that this magnitude of the
spring-force 62 provides a balance between ergonomics for an
assembler and electrical continuity between the conductive
components. An engagement-force 64 of the first-spring-terminal 22
and the second-spring-terminal 24 against the TPA 16 is greater
than 20 Newtons. The inventors have discovered that this magnitude
of the engagement-force 64 inhibits an unintentional removal of the
resistor-assembly 20. While FIG. 5 illustrates the U-shaped 38
first-spring-terminal 22 and the U-shaped 38 second-spring-terminal
24, it will be appreciated that the L-shaped 56
first-spring-terminal 22, the L-shaped 56 second-spring-terminal 24
may also be used in the assembly 10.
[0016] Accordingly, a connector-assembly 10 is provided. The
connector-assembly 10 is an improvement over prior art
connector-assemblies because the connector-assembly 10 includes the
resistor-assembly 20 that is nested in the TPA 16.
[0017] While this invention has been described in terms of the
preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited,
but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow.
"One or more" includes a function being performed by one element, a
function being performed by more than one element, e.g., in a
distributed fashion, several functions being performed by one
element, several functions being performed by several elements, or
any combination of the above. It will also be understood that,
although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used
herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be
limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish
one element from another. For example, a first contact could be
termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be
termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the
various described embodiments. The first contact and the second
contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact. The
terminology used in the description of the various described
embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the
description of the various described embodiments and the appended
claims, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to
include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term
"and/or" as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all
possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed
items. It will be further understood that the terms "includes,"
"including," "comprises," and/or "comprising," when used in this
specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude
the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As
used herein, the term "if" is, optionally, construed to mean "when"
or "upon" or "in response to determining" or "in response to
detecting," depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase "if it
is determined" or "if [a stated condition or event] is detected"
is, optionally, construed to mean "upon determining" or "in
response to determining" or "upon detecting [the stated condition
or event]" or "in response to detecting [the stated condition or
event]," depending on the context. Directional terms such as top,
bottom, upper, lower, left, right, front, rear, etc. do not denote
any particular orientation, but rather these directional terms are
used to distinguish one element from another and establish a
relationship between the various elements.
* * * * *